Abel Perez: Minimum wage hike would reduce food-stamp rolls

Friday

Nov 29, 2013 at 11:24 AM

One of the most common criticisms of food stamps by conservative members of Congress is that too many of the programs' recipients are able-bodied, but unwilling to work to earn a living. Their expressions of concern are self-serving and disingenuous.

One of the most common criticisms of food stamps by conservative members of Congress is that too many of the programs' recipients are able-bodied, but unwilling to work to earn a living. Their expressions of concern are self-serving and disingenuous.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 41 percent of all participants in the food assistance program live in households with earnings. (The rest of program participants are children, the disabled, and seniors with limited incomes.) These household earners make such low wages that they qualify for assistance.

Therein lies the problem. The problem could be fixed by raising the minimum wage to enable workers to earn enough to put food on the table and not have to rely on food stamps to do so.